Personal card removal apparatus

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of card removal apparatus include a substantially flat body and one or more ledges. The substantially flat body includes a bottom edge, a card contact surface adjacent the bottom edge, and a tab area that extends beyond the card contact surface. The one or more ledges are proximate to the bottom edge and extend above the card contact surface at an angle that is substantially perpendicular to the card contact surface. To utilize the card removal apparatus, a user slides an insertion edge of the card removal apparatus alongside a desired card until the ledge(s) snap into place along a bottom edge of the desired card, at which point the user may pull on the tab area to drag the card from the slot as it is supported by the ledge(s).

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the inventive subject matter relate to wallets or pocket or purse organizers or containers with one or more compartments, such as those used to hold identification cards.

BACKGROUND

Many consumers carry a wallet or container filled with a variety and multitude of identification cards. These cards typically are extracted periodically for a myriad of uses including, but not limited to, financial transactions, discounts, membership, and travel.

Generally, card holding containers provide compartments, slots or sleeves designed to prevent cards from falling out easily. Some compartments may allow insertion of a card into the slot beyond the edge of the card, which creates difficulty reaching the edge of the card in order to grasp and remove it.

A person may have difficulty attempting to extract a desired card for reasons including, but not limited to: (a) The compartment is filled to capacity with a stack of multiple cards tightly packed in a single sleeve, making it difficult to find and pull out a specific card from the stack; (b) The compartment is too tight or too small to insert fingers inside in order to grasp the card; (c) Cards may stick to the plastic viewing section of a compartment; (d) Some individuals have decreased dexterity of fingers due to arthritis or disability; and (e) A card may be placed completely within a specialized slot or pocket leaving no edge of the card exposed, which makes it difficult for the user to grasp the outermost edge of the card.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a card removal apparatus.

FIG. 1B is another perspective view of the card removal apparatus shown in FIG. 1A and configured as it may appear behind a personal card or credit card in a sleeve with the longer edge of the personal card having been inserted first, and with the tab section at the top which would remain exposed to the user.

FIG. 1C is another perspective view of the card removal apparatus, as depicted in FIG. 1B when flipped 180 degrees, to demonstrate a rear view of the apparatus and its positioning alongside a personal card.

FIG. 2A is a perspective side view of another example embodiment of a card removal apparatus, which is configured for insertion alongside a personal card wherein the short side is inserted into a sleeve first.

FIG. 2B is another perspective view of the card removal apparatus shown in FIG. 2A as it may appear behind a personal card or credit card in a sleeve with the shorter edge of the personal card having been inserted first.

FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the card removal apparatus shown in FIG. 2A as it may be viewed by looking at the bottom, or supporting shelf edge of the card removal apparatus as the leading view.

FIG. 2D is a perspective side view of the card removal apparatus shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2E is another perspective side view of the card removal apparatus as shown in FIG. 2D, as it may appear alongside a credit card.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another example embodiment of a card removal apparatus, which includes an enclosed or partially enclosed tab area for insertion of a personal item.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another example embodiment of a card removal apparatus, which includes a tab area with advertising or other indicia printed on the surface as it may extend above the personal card.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another example embodiment of a card removal apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the card removal apparatus shown in FIG. 2A, demonstrating a tab area that may be folded over, and additionally viewed with the tab area in a possible alternative with an enclosed space containing a personal item.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the card removal apparatus shown in FIG. 1A, wherein the surface of the tab is configured to be written upon.

FIG. 8 is a perspective interior view of a wallet demonstrating typical orientations and configurations of compartments or slots, and views of various embodiments of card removal apparatus as they may appear within the wallet or other card carrying container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of card removal apparatus disclosed herein are designed to assist the user in resolving the difficulty of card extraction from a wallet or other card carrying container. An embodiment of a card removal apparatus is constructed of plastic and/or other suitable materials, and includes a substantially flat body incorporating a card contact surface, a tab area extension that is visible beyond the card contact surface when a card is properly placed in contact with the card contact surface, one or more flat insertion edges, and one or more ledges extending at an angle that may be substantially perpendicular to the card contact surface. The card removal apparatus is configured to be utilized by sliding an insertion edge of the card removal apparatus alongside a card or between cards to the point where the supporting ledge of the apparatus snaps into place along the edge of the desired card, at which point the user may grasp and pull on the tab area of the card removal apparatus, effectively dragging the card from the slot as it is supported by the ledge.

Some embodiments include examples of alternate shapes, indicia, printing designs, logos, and/or identification, and enclosed or partially enclosed tab. Such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the inventive subject matter.

The card removal apparatus described herein is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, and there is shown in the drawings and described in detail herein specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as examples of the principles of the inventive subject matter, and the scope of the inventive subject matter is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described herein. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar, or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. This detailed description also defines the meaning of some of the terms used herein, and specifically describes embodiments in order for those skilled in the art to practice the application.

The terms, “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or as more than one. The term, “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or as more than two. The term, “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms, “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising.

Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment,” “certain embodiments,” and “an embodiment,” or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases in various placed throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without limitation.

The term “or” as used herein, is to be interpreted as an inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps, or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.

The drawings featured in the figures are for the purpose of illustrating certain convenient embodiments, and are not to be considered as limitations thereto. The term “means” preceding a present participle of an operation indicates a desired function for which there is one or more embodiments, i.e. one or more methods, devices, or apparatuses for achieving the desired function and that one skilled in the art could select from these or their equivalent in view of the disclosure herein, and use of the term “means” is not intended to be limiting.

The terms “about” or “substantially” as used herein mean that a number referred to as “about” or “substantially” comprises the recited number plus or minus 1-10% of that recited number. For example, “about” 100 inches can mean 95-105 inches or as few as 99-101 inches depending on the situation. Whenever it appears herein, a numerical range such as “1 to 20” refers to each integer in the given range; e.g., “1 to 20 mm” means that a measurement can be 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, etc., up to and including 20 mm. Similarly, ranges that include numbers with decimal places include each number in the given range signified by given decimal places, e.g., “0.30 mm to 0.40 mm” includes 0.30 mm, 0.31 mm, 0.32 mm, 0.34 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.36 mm, 0.37 mm, 0.38 mm, 0.39 mm, and 0.40 mm.

A “personal card” or “card,” as used herein, refers to a small card that can be retained in a wallet, billfold or card organizer that is carried on or by a person, containing information about or used by a person. Personal cards, as used herein, are between 2.5 inches (6.35 cm) and 4 inches (10.16 cm) long; between 1.5 inches (3.81 cm) and 3 inches (10.16 cm) wide; and between 0.01 inches (0.254 mm) and 0.04 inches (1 mm) thick. In certain embodiments, personal cards are between 3 inches (7.5 cm) and 3.75 inches (9.5 cm) long; between 1.7 inches (4.3 cm) and 2.8 inches (9.6 cm) wide; and between 0.015 inches (0.46 mm) and 0.03 inches (0.76 mm) thick.

The information that can be contained in or on a personal card includes typed or written information; photographic information; coded and/or bar-coded information; electronically recorded information as recorded on a magnetic stripe or integrated circuit; and embossed or imprintable information. The information contained in or on a personal card maybe of a permanent or “read-only” type, or it may be editable or re-writable information.

Personal cards are typically made from plastic but can be made from or include other materials such as coated or laminated card stock and/or metal, and can include additional components such as integrated circuits and magnetic stripes. The type of material that the card is made from depends in part on the information contained in or on the personal card.

In certain aspects of the application, a personal card is a standard identification card conforming to ISO/IEC standard 7810:2003, including standard ID-000 cards, standard ID-1 cards, standard ID-2 cards and standard ID-3 cards. Personal cards also include proximity cards that conform to ISO/IEC standard 14443-1:2008. “Proximity cards” as used herein, refer to cards used to control access, authentication and integrity validation, such as cards that are read by a detection device to open doors, gates and the like. Proximity cards employ contactless-detection technology and typically include an integrated circuit, such as radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags. Personal cards also include contactless integrated circuit identification cards conforming to ISO/IEC standard 15693-1:2000, known as “vicinity cards”.

Personal cards also include driving licenses, particularly ISO-compliant driving licenses conforming to ISO/IEC standard 18013-1:2005. Thin flexible cards conforming to ISO/IEC standard 15457-1:2008 are also included in the definition of personal cards.

“Financial transaction cards” are also included in the definition of personal cards. Such cards include credit cards, debit cards, other bank cards, merchant loyalty cards, membership cards and the like, that may contain a magnetic stripe capable of storing and transmitting information. Financial transaction cards include those that conform to one or more of standards ISO 9992, ISO/IEC 7813 and ISO/IEC 4909.

As used herein, “card holding container” refers to a wallet, billfold, organizer, clutch or other case designed to hold personal cards particularly adapted for holding driver's licenses and credit cards. Also included in the definition of “card holding container” are briefcases, backpacks, handbags, purses, fanny packs, valises and the like, that include pockets, slots, sleeves, or other adaptations for holding personal cards. A card holding container may also have a removable collection of sleeves used for holding cards, photographs, and the like, which may be inserted into a slot or compartment within the container.

Embodiments of card removal apparatus may be made generally of one or more rigid or semi rigid materials. For example, embodiments of card removal apparatus may be made of a durable, flexible material such as a heavy duty plastic, or a combination of materials used to formulate components or sections of the apparatus. Other embodiments may be formed from other suitable materials.

Certain embodiments of the apparatus may be varied considerably from the basic configurations illustrated and described herein. For example, such other embodiments may be contoured and/or include patterns, textures and/or impressions made during fabrication.

Embodiments of the card removal apparatus can be made by any suitable process including, but not limited to, molding, heating, casting, forging, laminating, carving, machining, pressing, fabricating, and the like. In certain embodiments, the card removal apparatus may be formed as a single unit by plastic injection molding. Other embodiments may be created by two or more sections of the card removal apparatus being manufactured separately from the same or different materials and then assembled or bonded together.

Embodiments include a card removal apparatus comprising a generally rectangular or alternately shaped body and one or more bottom ledges formulated with thin, heavy-duty plastic and/or other materials. The materials may be flexible, but rigid enough to retain their shape. Embodiments of the card removal apparatus may be created in a variety of sizes and/or shapes designed to accommodate the orientations or configurations of the compartments that may be located within a card holding container, such as sleeves or slots configured so that the longer side or the shorter side of a personal card is inserted first.

The width of the card removal apparatus (i.e., the dimension parallel to the bottom edge) is typically about the same as, or less than, a personal card, as hereinabove described, shown in embodiments so that the card removal apparatus may fit easily into a card holding container slot alongside the desired card to be removed. However, it is not intended to be limited to the width of a personal card. According to an embodiment, the width of a card removal apparatus is in a range of about 1.7 inches to about 4.0 inches, although the width may be larger or smaller, as well.

As used herein, the “card contact area” of the card removal apparatus refers to the area of the card removal apparatus located below the tab area. The main body of the card removal apparatus is the section of the card removal apparatus that contacts a personal card. The thickness of the main body is about the same or thinner than that of a personal card. One or more “visual components” may be applied to the card contact area, where a “visual component” may include text, printing, advertising, a photograph, a design, a texture, an indicia, a sticker, and the like, similar to or the same as the tab area as herein described below. The main body or any component of the card removal apparatus may be fully customizable on any surface, and may be produced in any variety of shapes, colors, designs, prints, and/or textures. According to an embodiment, the width of the card contact area (i.e., the dimension parallel to the bottom edge) is in a range of about 1.7 inches to about 4.0 inches, although the width may be larger or smaller, as well. According to an embodiment, the height of the card contact area (i.e., the dimension perpendicular to the bottom edge) is in a range of about 1.7 inches to about 4.0 inches, although the height may be larger or smaller, as well.

As used herein, “tab” or “tab area” is the section of the card removal apparatus which extends from the top and/or side of the card contact area, and which area remains in view of, and is grasped by the user when the card removal apparatus is engaged with a personal card. The tab is also fully customizable, and one or more visual components may be applied to the tab area, including text, printing, advertising, a photograph, a design, an indicia, a texture, and/or a sticker. Alternatively, the tab area may be left blank to allow the user to write or personalize either side of its surface, if desired. The tab area may be produced in a variety of shapes (including regular and irregular shapes), colors, and/or prints. The height and width of the tab area may vary, depending on the design of the tab area and/or the configuration of card insertion into the slot in the card holding container, vertically or horizontally, of a personal card as herein above described. According to an embodiment, the width of the tab area (i.e., the dimension that is parallel to the bottom edge) is in a range of about 0.25 inches to about 4.0 inches although the width may be larger or smaller, as well. According to a further embodiment, the height of the tab area (i.e., the dimension that is perpendicular to the bottom edge) may be in a range of about 0.25 inches to about 3.0 inches, although the height may be larger or smaller, as well.

The tab area may also contain a clear or opaque sleeve, slot or pouch into which a small photograph or other personal item, such as a key, may be inserted, and which may be closed or fastened by any means to completely enclose the item within the tab, or may have one or more edges left open. The sleeve may be formulated from any suitable material or combination of materials.

Other embodiments of the tab area include optional trimming by the user. In still other embodiments, the body includes a fold between the card contact area and the tab area, so that the tab area becomes a bendable element that may be folded over toward the card contact area, and the tab area may lie parallel to the card contact area. According to an embodiment, when in this configuration, the tab area and does not protrude outside of the card holding container or compartment when enclosed within. More specifically, according to various embodiments, the card removal apparatus may include a longitudinal fold, score, or crease located above the card contact area so that the card removal apparatus may be fully inserted into the sleeve with no interference when folding the tab area forward. One or more sides of the tab area may be opaque, or may provide a clear view of the item contained within, and may be constructed of clear plastic and/or fabric, and/or any suitable material or combination of materials.

Another embodiment may include a magnifying area located on any component of the card removal apparatus that may assist the user with viewing an object or small print that is directly in front of the magnifying section. The magnifying area may be constructed as a section of the card removal apparatus, or may be framed within one or more of the components.

The tab area projecting beyond the card contact area may vary in size and/or shape and design, the height of which ranges from a protrusion of about 0.25 inches to several inches beyond the card contact area. The width of the tab area is limited only to the confinement of the space inside a card holding container when closed.

As used herein the terms “supporting ledge” or “ledge” refers to the area of the card removal apparatus located along one or more edges (e.g., the bottom edge) of the card removal apparatus. According to various embodiments, the supporting ledge(s) extends in a direction that is substantially perpendicular, upright, or erect from the card contact area of the card removal apparatus. According to an embodiment, each shelf may have a thickness about the thickness of the card contact area of the card removal apparatus. Alternatively, each shelf may be constructed in a wedge shape or other shape and/or design.

The supporting ledge is a perpendicular extension from the card removal apparatus at a sharp angle, a wedge, or may be curved in such a manner as the supporting ledge may be fashioned similarly to a cup or slight curve surrounding one or more edges of a personal card.

An embodiment of the supporting ledge protrudes from the card removal apparatus to a distance the same as or slightly longer than the thickness of a personal card, about 0.01 inches (0.254 mm) to 0.08 inches (2 mm) in length.

The supporting ledge may be one continuous shelf or split into two or more ledges along the same plane, similar to the tines of a fork, the purpose of which is to support the edge of the selected card so that, after insertion alongside the card, both the card and the card removal apparatus may be easily extracted from the compartment by pulling on the tab area of the card removal apparatus. The embodiments refer to the curved or bent area of the card removal apparatus protruding at a perpendicular angle from the card removal apparatus. When the card removal apparatus is inserted into a compartment, the ledge snaps into place once it has reached the edge, or just beyond the edge, of the card that is selected to be removed. The purpose of the ledge is to support the card as it is extracted from within a compartment or from within a plurality of cards within a compartment by essentially dragging the card out of the compartment with, and alongside, the card removal apparatus.

As used herein, the term, “insertion tip” refers to one or more areas located along an edge of the card removal apparatus (e.g., adjacent a bottom edge of the card removal apparatus) consisting of flat areas on the same plane or parallel to the card contact area, and may have a thinned, pointed, curved or other shape. An insertion tip may be constructed of the same or alternate material as the card removal apparatus, and is designed to be rigid enough to allow ease of insertion of the card removal apparatus into a card holding container slot, and may act as a lever to slide easily between a plurality of cards in the compartment slot, even if the cards are packed tightly together.

Embodiments of card removal apparatus described herein allow a user to easily remove a card from within a wallet or similar card holding container by inserting the card removal apparatus into a sleeve in a card carrying container alongside the entire length or width of a personal card, depending on its orientation within the wallet slot or compartment, until it has reached just beyond the edge of the personal card. Once the card removal apparatus is fully inserted within the sleeve, the supporting ledge snaps into place underneath the innermost edge of the personal card, and the card is withdrawn by pulling the exposed tab area of the card removal apparatus from the sleeve along with the desired card. Although embodiments of the card removal apparatus and its components may be manufactured in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, once it is fully inserted alongside a personal card contained in a slot, the tab section of the card removal apparatus extends beyond the outermost edge of the personal card, remaining in view of the user. The card removal apparatus may be stored in a slot within a card carrying container, and may quickly be moved from one slot and placed into another in order to extract any one or more of the personal cards from within a collection or stack of personal cards, as needed. Another benefit afforded by the card removal apparatus is that it does not add bulk to a card carrying container, as only one card removal apparatus would typically be needed per card carrying container.

As shown in FIGS. 1A-8, embodiments of card removal apparatus may be integrally formed out of a single piece of thin, flexible, lightweight, heavy-duty plastic or other suitable material or combination of materials that may be formed or joined together so that the card removal apparatus retains its rigidity in various climates and after repeated use. Although illustrated embodiments of the card removal apparatus a crafted as an integral unit, it is made up of several sections or components. In other embodiments, the card removal apparatus may include multiple sections that are not integrally formed, but instead are joined together.

Referring to FIGS. 1A-1C, an embodiment of a card removal apparatus includes a main body 22 and one or more supporting ledges 23 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1A). The main body 22 of the card removal apparatus may be generally rectangular or may have any other of a variety of shapes or designs. According to an embodiment, the main body 22 includes a bottom edge, a card contact area 26, and a tab area 27. The card contact area 26 may be substantially flat, and one or more supporting ledges 23 extend from the bottom edge of the main body 22 at an angle that is substantially perpendicular to the main body 22. The supporting ledge 23 or ledges are located along the bottom edge of the card removal apparatus, in an embodiment, and the bottom edge and supporting ledge(s) 23 are configured to be insertable into a slot, sleeve or compartment (e.g., compartment 24, FIG. 8) in a personal card container (e.g., container 25, FIG. 8), such as a wallet. The card contact area 26 is the surface of the card removal apparatus that lies parallel to and next to a personal card 29 once the card removal apparatus is inserted into a slot (e.g., slot 24, FIG. 8). According to an embodiment, the tab area 27 remains visible outside the slot once the card removal apparatus has been inserted alongside the personal card 29.

According to an embodiment, the main body 22 further includes one or more areas located along an edge of the card removal apparatus (e.g., adjacent the bottom edge) on the same plane as the main body 22 of the card removal apparatus, referred to as an insertion edge 28. Each insertion edge 28 may be rounded or angled, and may be thinned so that it may be used as a wedge to assist a user with inserting the card removal apparatus into a slot (e.g., slot 24, FIG. 8) alongside a personal card 29 or in between cards that are tightly packed together. The insertion edge 28 creates enough of an opening to push the supporting ledge 23 down into the slot 24 and to just beyond the edge of the personal card 29.

Once fully inserted into a slot or sleeve 24 within a card holding container (e.g., card holding container 25, FIG. 8), the supporting ledge 23 will snap into place underneath the innermost edge of the personal card 29, which serves to support the card 29 as the card removal apparatus and card are both extracted from the slot 24 by pulling on the card removal apparatus tab area 27 and sliding the card removal apparatus and the card 29 out of the sleeve simultaneously.

FIG. 8 demonstrates embodiments of the card removal apparatus as may be placed in multiple slots 24 of different orientations within a card holding container 25. The main body 22 of the apparatus slides into and must fit within the space allotted inside a sleeve 24, while the tab area 27, remains in view outside of a sleeve 24.

FIGS. 1A-1C are perspective views of the front of a card removal apparatus depicting an embodiment in which the longer, wider side of a personal card 29 is oriented into a sleeve first, so the top of the personal card 29 may be visible outside the sleeve. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1C, the card removal apparatus may be about the same or less in thickness than a standard personal card 29, which is typically between 0.01 inches (0.254 mm) and 0.04 inches (1 mm), or between 0.015 inches (0.46 mm) and 0.03 inches (0.76 mm) thick. The supporting shelf 23 is along the bottom edge of the main body 22 of the card removal apparatus. There are two insertion edges 28, each located adjacent to the bottom edge on either side of the supporting shelf 23, each having a slightly curved shape. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C, the width of the main body 22 is about 2.5 inches, and the entire height of the card removal apparatus, including the tab area 27, is about 3 inches. As stated previously, the width and/or height may be greater or less, in other embodiments.

FIG. 1B is another perspective view of the front of the card removal apparatus from the same angle depicted in 1A, but showing a personal card 29 lying parallel to, and against the card contact area 26 of the card removal apparatus. The personal card 29 is resting on the supporting shelf 23 located along the bottom, long edge portion, of the personal card 29. Both short end portions of the personal card 29 extend slightly beyond the main body 22 of the card removal apparatus. In this embodiment, the tab area 27 protrudes about 1.0 inches above the card contact area 26. As stated previously, the height of the tab area 27 may be greater or less, in other embodiments. FIG. 1C depicts the same configuration described in FIG. 1B, but shows the view of the card removal apparatus from the opposite side when rotated 180 degrees.

FIGS. 2A-2B are perspective views of the front of another embodiment of a card removal apparatus, which is configured to remove cards from sleeves in which the shorter, narrower side of a personal card 29 is oriented into a compartment first, so the shorter portion of the personal card 29 may be visible outside the compartment. The card removal apparatus includes a main body 22A and one or more supporting ledges 23A (only one of which is shown in FIG. 2A). The main body 22A of the card removal apparatus may be generally rectangular or may have any other of a variety of shapes or designs. According to an embodiment, the main body 22A includes a bottom edge, a card contact area 26A, and a tab area 27A. The card removal apparatus may have a thickness that is about the same or less in thickness than a standard personal card 29, which is typically between 0.01 inches (0.254 mm) and 0.04 inches (1 mm), or between 0.015 inches (0.46 mm) and 0.03 inches (0.76 mm) thick. The supporting shelf 23A is along the bottom edge of the main body 22A. There are two insertion edges 28A, each located on either side of, and extending outward from the supporting shelf 23A, in a slightly curved shape. In this embodiment, the width of the main body 22A is about 1.75 inches. The entire height, including the tab area 27A, is about 4.25 inches. The width and height may be different, in other embodiments.

FIG. 2B is another perspective view of the front of the card removal apparatus from the same angle depicted in FIG. 2A, but showing a personal card 29 lying parallel to, and against the card contact area 26A of the card removal apparatus 22A. The personal card 29 is resting on the supporting shelf 23A located along the bottom, short edge portion, of the personal card 29. Both long end portions of the personal card 29 extend slightly beyond the main body 22A of the card removal apparatus. The tab area 27A protrudes about 1.0 inches above the card contact area 26A of the card removal apparatus.

FIG. 2C is a bottom view of the card removal apparatus of FIG. 2A, and FIGS. 2D-2E are side views of the card removal apparatus of FIGS. 2A and 2B, respectively. FIGS. 2C-2E are included herein to illustrate that the thickness of the card removal apparatus may be approximately the same thickness as a personal card 29, although it may be thinner or thicker, as well. In addition, FIGS. 2C-2E also illustrate that the supporting ledge 23A may extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the card contact area 26A (i.e., at about 90 degrees) to a distance from the card contact area 26A that may be approximately the same thickness as a personal card 29, although it may extend to a lesser or greater distance, as well.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a card removal apparatus in which a tab area 27C includes a sleeve or an opening for insertion of a photograph or other item, such as a spare key. In this particular embodiment, the orientation of the card removal apparatus is such that the insertion of a personal card 29 within a slot of a card carrying container is with the long edge of the personal card 29 inserted into the slot first. In an alternate embodiment, a card removal apparatus with a sleeve-containing tab area may be oriented such that the insertion of a personal card 29 within a slot is with the short edge of the personal card 29 inserted into the slot first.

FIGS. 4-5 illustrate further embodiments of card removal apparatus. In the embodiments of FIGS. 4-5, the tab areas 27D-27E are customized with advertising, design, logo, indicia, and/or artwork. In addition, FIG. 5 demonstrates that the tab area 27E and the card contact area 26E, may be constructed of a wide variety of shapes and/or designs, photographs, artwork, and/or textures. The depicted embodiments are for example purposes only, and are not intended to limit the shape and/or design of any portion of the card removal apparatus.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a card removal apparatus in which tab area 27F includes an opening for insertion of a photograph or other item, such as a spare key, into a specialized sleeve or pouch. In addition, between the card contact area 26F and the tab area 27F, a longitudinal fold, score, or crease 30 is included, which allows the tab area 27F to be folded parallel to the card contact area 26F of the card removal apparatus. Accordingly, when the card carrying container (e.g., card carrying container 25, FIG. 8) is folded or closed, the tab area 27F is contained within.

FIG. 7 is an embodiment of a card removal apparatus in which the tab area 27G includes a writable surface. Accordingly, this provides a user with an option to customize the card removal apparatus with writing, drawing, or another design or personalization of the tab area 27G.

FIG. 8 illustrates a card holding container 25 (e.g., a wallet) with multiple personal cards 29 situated within several slots 24 of the card holding container 25. The figure demonstrates how embodiments of the card removal apparatus may be situated within the slots 24 in the card holding container 25. The slots 24 in the card holding container 25 are predominantly oriented so that a personal card 29 is inserted with the long edge first, leaving the opposite long edge of the personal card 29 exposed to view by the user. One embodiment of a card removal apparatus shows a tab area 27H extending upward from the slot 24, and positioned behind one of the cards within the slot 24. The dotted lines indicate where the edges of the card removal apparatus may be positioned behind a personal card 29, depicted by broken lines, if they were not partially hidden from view when inserted in the sleeve 24.

The card holding container 25 of FIG. 8 also includes one specialized compartment or sleeve 31 which is usually found to be three-sided, and oriented in such a way that the short end of a personal card 29 would be inserted first. Once inside the specialized sleeve 31, the personal card 29 (e.g., a drivers license) may be viewed through the front portion of the specialized sleeve 31, and may completely enclose all sides of a personal card 29, leaving no edges of the personal card 29 exposed outside of the specialized sleeve 31. Another example embodiment of a card removal apparatus demonstrates a tab area 27J constructed with an opening for insertion of a photograph or other item, such as a spare key. One or more sides of the tab area 27J may be opaque, or may provide a clear view of the item contained within, and may be constructed of clear plastic substance or any suitable material or combination of materials. In this particular embodiment, the orientation of the card removal apparatus is such that the insertion of a personal card 29 within a specialized sleeve 31 of the card carrying container 25 is with the short edge of the personal card 29 inserted into the specialized sleeve 31 first, and is completely enclosed in the specialized sleeve 31 with no edges of the personal card 29 exposed. The card contact area of the card removal apparatus is inserted behind the personal card 29, and the tab area 27J is folded forward over the front of the specialized sleeve 31 so that it lies against the front of the specialized sleeve 31, parallel to both the front view of the personal card 29 and the card contact area of the card removal apparatus contained within. The dotted lines are meant to show the orientation and location of the card contact area of the card removal apparatus if it was exposed to view within the specialized sleeve 31.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, these descriptions are not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It should be noted that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be noted by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims, and relative terms and examples above are meant to help in the understanding of the technology and are not meant to limit the scope of the application. It is contemplated that the claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments that fall within the true scope of the inventive subject matter. 

We claim:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a body with a bottom edge, a substantially flat card contact surface adjacent the bottom edge, and a tab area that extends beyond the card contact surface; and one or more ledges proximate to the bottom edge and extending above the card contact surface at an angle that is substantially perpendicular to the card contact surface.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the card contact surface has a width in a range of 2.5 inches to 4.0 inches, and a height in a range of 1.5 inches to 3.0 inches.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the card contact surface has a width in a range of 1.5 inches to 3.0 inches, and a height in a range of 2.5 inches to 4.0 inches.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tab area has a height in a range of 0.5 inches to 3.0 inches.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more ledges have a dimension in a direction substantially perpendicular to the card contact surface in a range of 0.01 inches to 0.08 inches.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more ledges are integrally formed with the body.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more ledges are attached to the body.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a sleeve attached to the tab area.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a fold at an intersection between the card contact area and the tab area, which enables the tab area to be folded over toward the card contact area.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body has a surface that is printable or writable.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an edge of the tab area has an irregular shape.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: one or more flat insertion edges adjacent the bottom edge.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body and the one or more ledges are formed from plastic.
 14. A method comprising: forming a body with a bottom edge, a substantially flat card contact surface adjacent the bottom edge, and a tab area that extends beyond the card contact surface; and forming one or more ledges proximate to the bottom edge and extending above the card contact surface at an angle that is substantially perpendicular to the card contact surface.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the steps of forming the body and forming the one or more ledges comprise one or more processes selected from molding, heating, casting, forging, laminating, carving, machining, and pressing.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the steps of forming the body and forming the one or more ledges comprise forming the body and the one or more ledges as an integral unit using a plastic injection molding process.
 17. The method of claim 14, further comprising: applying one or more visual components to the tab area, wherein the one or more visual components are selected from text, one or more graphic designs, and one or more images.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of applying the one or more visual components to the tab area comprises printing the one or more visual components on the tab area.
 19. The method of claim 14, further comprising forming a sleeve as part of the tab area. 